Method and apparatus for forming glass



,Hill

Filed vJuly 26, 1918 Feb. 12' 1924.

R M coRL METHOD AND APPBA'IUS FOR FORMING GLASS u; -om w R. M. CORL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR vFORMING GLA'SS File JU Feb. 12E 1924. 1,483,336

R. M. CORL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASS Filed July 26, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 IHl uml A l AF ai i7 Feb. 12 1924.

RAM. CORI.

METHOD AND APPARATUSl FORy FORMING GLASS Filed July 26, 1918 4 Sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR v Patented4 Fels. l2, i924,

'narran as hdmi parte essere.,

BGBERT M. CORI, F MAUMEE, OEIS, ASSEGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ERE GLASS COMPANY, 0F TULEDO, QHO, A CRPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

METHOD AND .APPARATUS FOR- FORMING GLASS.

Application filed .lilly 26, 1918. Serial No. 246,877.

To all whom t may conce'm:

Be it known that I, Ronnn'r M. CoRL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Maumee, in the county of Lucas and State 5 ot' Chio, have invented a certain new and useful Method and Apparatus for Forming Glass; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others 1o skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and torthe characters of reference marked thereon, which-form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of glass, and particularly to the continuous drawing of a mass of relatively thick glass from a tank or other source of supply, preferably while still heated, raising the temperature thereof, at a relatively restricted zone, to a iowing consistency, whereby the thickness of the mass is reduced to a finished commercial thickness, which may be varied depending on the temperature conditions and the speed of advance imparted to. the

reduced column relative to the thicker mass.

'The present invention difers from that embodied in my pending application Serlal No. 232,841, tiled May 6, 1918, as a contlnuation of my applicationSerial No. 163,569,

filed April 21, 1917, in that the present 1nvention contemplates the continuous drawing of a column of metal from a molten mass in a thickness which is greater than the desired finished sheet, and while the column is still heated, subjecting it at a zone which is relatively restricted lengthwise of the sheet, to a heat sufficient to soften and flow the metal to reduce its thickness to that of the finished ware desired; whereas in said former application the treated column was not drawn up from the pot or source of supply and subsequently heated' and'shaped. In other words the present. invention. contemplates an improvement on the direct method of drawing sheet glass in finished size as distinguished from the method dlsclosed in said former application.

lt has for years been the endeavor of mventors and Workers in this industry to produce a mechanism or method which would draw the finished ware direct from the tank at sufficient speed and of suitable quality to be commercially successful. With my method many of .the difficulties and disadvantages encountered in the old direct. method, in whlchthe finished ware is drawn direct from the tank, are overcome, as I produce a sheet mass which is several times the thickness of the desired ware and which is reduced to the commercial thickness desired. -lt'is not necessary to change the drawing mechanism which lproduces the sheet mass when it is deslred to change the'sheet thickness. Furthermore, the large quantity of glass in the sheet mass enables its temperature and shape to be more readily controlled than is possible With the direct method, and by using the tank or furnace solely as a glass inciting means its maximum production can be obtained without limiting' it to the speed of production of the finished ware. In the direct method the efiiciency of the tank is often greatly reduced when a sheet is .formed which extracts a quantity of molten glass which is considerably less than the melting capacity ofthe furnace. With my method the furnace can be maintained at its maximum eiiiciency production, the sheet mass being maintained practically constant in size and thickness and drawnat a 'speed suflicient to take care of the full melting capacity of the furnace. Very ,great difficulty is experienced in the direct method in control- -ling` the temperature of the huge mass ot molten glass when producing thin sheets.

Glass of a temperature suitable for drawing` is very sensitive to temperature changes, it being just above the temperature at which it will solidify, and the continuous drawing; of

a sheet of glass of common window glass thickness is necessarily an extremely delicate and sensitive operation when produced from a. mass of molten glass of many tons.

' An object of my invention is to' overcome the above difficulties and produce a sheet mass which is comparatively easy to control because of its having sufiicient mass to give it strength and to reduce its sensitiveness to sudden chanoes of temperature.

A further object of the invention is to 'overcome the very serious troubles incident to bending the finished glass sheet over the so-called bending-roll in the direct method. Glass to be bent over a bendingroll must be of a temperature cool enough for the surface iinish not to be destroyed by contact with the roll. If the slnet is too hot it will not draw correctly and may sag back into the molten mass, or have its surface finish destroyed, and if the sheet is too `cool it may crack or not bend smoothly.. All of these conditions demand a very careful adjustment, and when ware of Vhigh quality is desired the difficulty of controlling all these factors greatly reduces the commercial value and possibility of the use of such direct method for the production of good grades of commercial sheet glass. lWith my invention the finished ware is not bent over a roll after being shaped, neither is it subjected to strains and surface chilling by too early contact with a metal surface. This is a very great advantage as it-is extremely difficult to prevent the rolls from destroying the surface finish. Furthermore,vwith my invention, the finished ware is produced away from the terrific heat of the melting furnace, and the coverting means are constructed to permit of easy access and handling. This results in great advantage as it enables the operator to easily and quickly control the temperatures and forming mechanism. In the direct method most defects cannot be remedied after the sheet is formed, whereas with my invention the converters can be readily adjusted to any desired change in the sheet mass. Most defects, however, disappear naturally when the sheet mass is reduced to thel nished ware, and the production has a beautiful natural fire finish on both sides, as the ware, after being subjected tothe converting heat, does not'come in contact with any surface until suiiciently cooled to prevent injury.

The invention is fully described in the fol; lowing specification, and while the method disclosed is capable of being practiced by numerous apparatus, only one of such apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in wl1ich,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an appara- -tus for practicing the invention with arts broken away. Flg. 2- is an enlarged ront elevation of part of the converter with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the lines 3, 3 in Fig. 1 with parts broken away and removed. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the tension table, its cover and adjusting and temperature controlling means, with parts broken away. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section through the upper air blast control of the tension table cover. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of a portion of the tension table bed illustrating the corrugated or undulated sheet contacting surface. Fig.7 is an enlarged cross-section of the lower gas vburner of the converter, and Fig. 8 is an enlargedend elevation of a portion of the electric heating element of the conve with part broken away.

messes Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a furnace, tank or other suitable source of supply for molten lass 2 from which a column of glass 3 o sheet form is drawn, said tank or source of supply being disposed within a furnace or heating chamber fi.; formed by a wall or casing 5, as is weil understood in the art. The column 3 at a suitable height above the tank 1 passes over a bending-roll 6 and thence forward over an endless chain-conveyor 7 by which it is supported and which cooperates with a superposed endless chain having pressure feet 8 to impart the desired drawin or forward feeding movement to the sieet. rEhe furnace and drawing means illustrated are the same, or practically so, as those illus'- trated and described in the Colburn Patent No. 1,122,692 and need not therefore be specifically described, as the specific construction thereof forms no part of the present invention and may be varied materially Without avoiding the features of the invention.

The glass column or sheet 3, which, in the carrying out of my4 invention, is relatively of considerable greater thickness than a finished or commercial sheet, such as is formed in the direct methods now commonly employed, passes from the furnace through a front opening 9 therein, the size of which is regulated by an adjusting gate 10, into a converting chamber or comparte ment 1l in which is located the means for applying heat to the sheet mass or column to reduce its thickness the desired extent after leaving the conveyor 7 or other ailvancing means. The sheet, after being reduced in the converter compartment to the finished or desired commercial thickness, passes through or over a supportin and temperature controlling means 12 wierein the sheet temperature is corrected, if desired, and from which it thence passes into and through a lever 13, which is equipped with any suitable sheet conveying means, as is' well understood in the art.

The converting means illustrated co prises an upper gas burner or heater A and an upper electric heater B which are disposed above the sheet mass 3 within the con verting compartment 11 and with the electric heater in advance of the heater Av and over the converting oint of the sheet. A gas burner or heater l is vdisposed within the compartment 11 below the converting point of the sheet. The gas burner A forms aninitial heater for the sheet mass and comprises a chambered burner head 14, the chamber 15 of which (Fig. 3) is substantially coextensive in length with the Width of the sheet acted on and has its bottom wall provided with one or more longitudinally-extending sldts 16 through which the flames from the burner are directed against the subisc neeasee jacent sheet, A mixing chamber 17 is mounted above the head 14 in fixed relation thereto and has communication with the interior of the burner head through a plurality of valve controlled gas jets 18. Mounted above the mixing chamber 17, in fixed relation thereto, are two conduits or manifolds 19 and 20 which are in'respective communication with the interior of the mixin chamber through control valves 21, an these manifolds have supply pipes 22 and 23 leading thereto, respectively, from suitable sources of gas and air supply, whereby air is supplied to one manifold and gasto the other. The header 14, mixer 17 and manifolds 19 and 20 are carried, in the present instance, by an inverted U-shaped yoke 24, which is suspended from a superposed supporting shaft 25, said yoke havlng a bearinghead 26 at its top that is mounted tor longitudinal sliding movements on said shaft. rEheshaft 25 is supported at its ends in bearing standards 27, 27 one of which is adjustably mounted on one side wall 11 of the converter compartment, while the other is adjustably mounted on a support 28 that is laterally odset a distance from the side of the furnace or converter substantially equal to the length of the burner, whereby the burner may be drawn laterally from the furnace into the open space between the converter and standard 28 to facilitate, adjustment of the valves or repair. For this purpose the side of the converter casing adjacent to the i standard 28 is provided with doors 29, which may be opened tov permit a lateral withdrawal .of the burner from the converter chamber. The movements of the burner A lengthwise ofthe shaft 25 are edected by the turning of a control shaft 30, which is threaded through the bearing head 26 of the burner yoke and has its-ends journaled in the upper ends of the bearings 27 27.

To facilitate an adjustment of the burner.

A both vertically and longitudinally of the sheet mass 3, each bearing standard 27 has its base dove-tailed on top of a wedge-block 31 for sliding movements on the inclined top of said block lengthwise of the furnace,

,whereby to eect a vertical adjustment of The Wedge-blocks 31 are in turn dove-tailed, or otherwise suitably mounted, on a to rail 32 of the respective wall 11L and stan ard 28, which are mounted for lengthwise adjustment relative thereto. Av shaft 33 connects and is jour-naled at its ends in the base portions of the bearing the standards.

standards 27, 27 and carries a pinion 34 at' each end in mesh with a rack 35 on the outer edge portion of the 4respective wedge-block 31 so that a turning-of said pinions with the` shaft 33 will effect a vertical adjustment of the standards 27, 27 -relative to the wedge blocks.` A second shaft 33 connects and is journaled at its ends in the ctive blocks 31, 3l and carries a pinion 37 at the inner side of each of said wedge blocks and in mesh with a stationary rack 38 on the adj acent side of the respective rail 32, whereby a turning of the shaft 36 and its pinion will e'ect a longitudinal adjustment of the wedge blocks 31 relative to the rails 32. The.

shafts 33 and 36 extend through openings in the end portions of the yoke 24 and each of said shafts, as `well as the shaft 30, has an end thereof squared, in the present instance, to enable a wrench or crank-arm to be tted theretoa lt is evident that with the burner adjustment desired the burner may be raised or lowered with respect to the sheet 3 by turning the shaft 33 to etect a sliding adjustment of the standards 27 on the wedge blocks ,31, and that a horizontal adjustment of the justment lengthwise of the sheet to enable,

the burner base to be disposed at an angle which may be suited to the angle of iiow of the finished thin sheet from the sheet mass at the convertin point. In the present instance the burner comprises a core 40, which core is co-eXtensive inlength with the width of the sheet 3 to be treated.l The core 40 is embraced von opposite sides by side strips'41-forming the secondary, and these strips interengage with-the core to carry the same and are insulated therefrom. The secondary strips 41 are connected at one end to a primary coil 42 having a rheostat control 43 for regulating the current. A case 44 fits down over thc core 4 0 `and side strips 41, being insulated from said side strips, but not .from the core 40. The side strips 41 have studs 45 projected up through registering openings in the top of the case strips 46 are extended across 'the bottom of .44, and nuts 45 are threaded to the outer the core 40 and the lower'edges of the secondary side strips 41 and are held in spaced relation to the core by said side strips. The

ends of the bottom strips 46 are extended up at the outer sides of side strips 41 in position to be clamped thereto by clamping blocks 47, `from which they are insulated,

lll

one of which blocks is provided at each end of a bottom strip. rlhe clamping blocks 47 have their upper edges in wedre coaction with the lower inner edges of the sides of the case 44, whereby an upward drawing of the wedge blocks 47 within the respective edge portions of the case 44 causes said blocks to firmly clamp the ends ofthe bottom strips 46 to the side strips 41. Each block 47 has a draft-bolt 48 projected upward therefrom through a registering aper ture inthe respective side of the case 44 and an adjusting nut 49 is threaded to the upper end of the bolt.

The heater case 44 is provided centrally on its top with a bracket 50 which has its top inclined transversely of the burner and is in adjustable dove-tailed sliding connection witi the bottom of a suspending arm 51, whereby a relative adjustment of the bracket 50 and arm 51 lengthwise of the direction of movement of the sheet 3 effects a raising or lowering of the burner relative to the sheet. A shaft 52 is j ournaled in the lower end of the arm 51 transversely thereof and has a pinion 53 in mesh with a rack 54 on the adjacent edge of the bracket 50. It is thus evident that a turning of the shaft 52 will effect a relative adjustmentof the members 50 and 51.

The arm 51 is suspended from a supporting shaft 55 which extends crosswise of the converting chamber 11 and isjournaled at its respective ends in bearing standards 56 which are mounted on the rails 32, 32 at the respective sides of the furnace for sliding movements lengthwise thereof, the standards 56, in thepresent instance, having dovetailed connection with said rails. A shaft 57 connects and is journaled at its ends in the base portions of the two standards 56 and carries a pinion 58 adjacent to its standard in mesh with a rack 59 on the respective rail 32, whereby a turning of said Shaft will impart adjusting movements to the standards 56 lengthwise of the furnace. The shaft 57 extends through a segmental slot or opening 60 in the arm 51 and carries a crank 61 at one end. The arm 51 is splined to the shaft 55 for sliding movements lengthwise thereof and for swinging movements therewith, and a rocking adjustment is imparted to the shaft 55 by a turning of the crank 62, the shaft of which carries a worm 63 in mesh with a worm-{wheel 64 on the shaft. The arm 51 is adjusted lengthwise of the shaft 55 by a turning of a shaft 65, which is journaled at its ends in the upper' ends f the standards 56 and is threaded throng;A a sleeve 66 that is mounted in a segmental slot 67 provided in the upper end of the arm 51. The slot 67 is concentric to the axis of the shaft 55, andthe sleeve 66 is suiliciently loose therein to permit a relative swinging adjustment :of the arm. Said sleeve is shouldered against the arms at the ends of the slot to prevent relative lengthwise movements of the sleeve in the arm.

The bottom burner C comprises the burner head 70 forming the interior chamber 71,

which is coextensive in length with the;- width of the sheet being treated and has itsv top provided with a plurality of la'me discharge slots 72, the size ofG each of which slots is regulated by an adjustment of one side wall thereof which is adjustably mounted for such purpose. A plurality of burner jets 73 enter the chamber 71 at the bottom thereof and the gas dischargetherefrom is directed against a baille flange 74 which extends from" one side of the chamber wall to near the other thereof. A second set of burner jets 75 enter the forward side wall of the burner head above the flange 74 and below a pair of oppositely disposed bale flanges 76, which restrict the passage of gases to the discharge slots 72. rlhe burner jets 73 and 75 extend from a mixer base 11 toV which the gas and air manifolds 78, 79 lead. The base 11 has its bottom inclined lengthwise of the furnace and mounted on the top of a wedge block 80 for shifting movements transversely thereof or lengthwise of the furnace. The block 80 is in turn mounted on a supporting bracket81 for adjusting movements transversely thereof and lengthwise of the furnace, and this bracket is in turn mounted on a shaft 82 for rocking movements therewith and axial movements relative thereto. A stub-shaft 83 is journaled in one end ofthe mixer base 77 and carries a pinion 84 in mesh with a rack 85 on the adjacent end of the wedge-block 80, and a similar stub-shaft 86 is journaled in an end of the bracket 81 and carries a pinion 87 in mesh with a rack 88 on the wedge-block 80. lt is thus evident that a turning of the shaft 83 and pinion 84 will effect a transverse adjustment of the mixer 77 vand parts carried thereby relative to the wedge block 8O and will impart vertical adjustment to the burner head, and that a turning of the shaft 86 and pinion 87 will effect an adjustment of the wedge block 80 and mixer base 77 in unison transversely of the bracket 81 without changing the vertical position of the burner head. The shaft 82 is journaled at one end in the converter wall 11a and at its other end in a bearing 89 that is mounted in a part of the offset side standard 28. A crank 90 has worm and worm-wheel connection with the shaft 82 to render it operable to impart rocking movements to said shafts, and a shaft 91 below the shaft 82 is journaled at its ends in or adjacent to the bearing members carrying the shaft 82 and is threaded intermediate its ends through a sleeve 92 that is carried in a slotted portion of the bracket 81 in the same manner that the sleeve 66 is carried by resaca@ the bracket-arm.' 1t is evident that a turning of the shaft 91 will impart adjustment to the lower burner C axially of the shaft 82 and that a turning ot theA shaft 82 will ei'ect a rocking adjustment of said burner to vary the angle which its top bears to the sheet being treated.

The sheet mass or column 3 may be sup,- ported by a supporting roller 93 in advance of the conve or 'i' and in'advance of or below the initlal `burner A of the converter. The heat of the burners B and C, which are converting burners, is directed against the sheet mass in 'advance of the roller 93 or other support and the thinning ot the sheet mass to the desired finished or commercial thickness takes place at substantially the point ot application of the intense heat Jfrom the burners Band C on the sheet, said heat being suliicient to cause a melting and substantially free flowingr oi' the glass from the forward end of the sheet mass to form the relatively thinner sheet 3% The converted sheet 3 extends downward and forward. from the converting end of the sheet mass to tlhe leer conveyor and the pull exerted theieon by said conveyor is properly regu'- lated to take u the finished sheet at the speed at which 1t is desired to have it flow fromthe -forward end of the sheet mass. The leer conveyor also may exert a slight pullor drawing stress on the sheet to facilitate its flow from the sheet mass., The application of heat to thel sheet mass may be controlled by dampers arranged at suitable points, one of which is designated 9&1 and arranged to regulate the passage of heat forward along the sheet from the burners.

rlhe support or table 12, over which the sheet asses between its point 'of conversion and t e leer 13, is mounted at its forward end for both vertical swinging and horizontal adjustment to enable it to be adjusted to vary the point at which the converted sheet rst comes in contact therewith. The. greater the space between the converting end of the sheet mass and the point at which the converted sheet has contact with the top `of the table 12, the greater will be the weight of such unsupported portion of the dowing sheet and the consequent tension or gravity pull of such portion on the sheet mass en For this reason it is important that the member 12 be capable of adjustment to vary the length of the supported span of the sheet so as to regulate the tension on the converting portion of the sheet.

For the purpose of such adjustment the table 12 is provided at its forward end with Y axially aligned side trunnions 95, which are 'ournalcd in bearing blocks 90 that rest tor orizontal sliding adjustment lengthwise of the leer on the su porting bars 9? thereof.. Each bearing bloc carries a stub shaft through.

00 with a pinion 99 mounted thereon and in mesh with a rack 100 on the respective bar 9?. Itis thus evident that a turning ot the shafts 98 effects a horizontal adjustment of thebearings 96 and a corresponding forward or backward movement tothe table 12. The table 12 is adjustably su ported in proper inclined position by an adjustable screw support- 101, which connects a bracket on the bottom of said table to a bracket on the rear end of the leer. The top or sheet contact- .ing surface of the table 12 is corrugated, as

shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 6, to reduce the arca of contact of the sheet with the table as much as possible and lessen the rictional resistance oiiered thereby;

In order to control the cooling of the tinished sheet, after leaving the converter and before entering the leer, the table 12 is provided with an enclosing cover 102, which is loosely seated at its forward end on the tran nions for vertical Swingin movements relative thereto and is adj ustaly su orted at or adjacent to its rear end by a aah` e 103, or in any other suitable manner, by means of which the cover may be raised entirely from the table or swingingly adjusted in a vertical plane with respect thereto. The' cover is'open at its front and rear ends to permit the passa e of the glass sheet there- Yl`he ta` le cover 102 at its top rear portion is provided with a. blast chamber 104; which 'is co-extensive in len h with the width of the glass sheet an receives its blast supply throu h a conduit 105, which leads to an suitable source of air pressure supply. Tie bottom ofthe blast chamber 104 is provided with a large outlet opening 106 and this is covered by a plurality of thin gauze sheets 107, whereby the air is thoroughly broken up and distributed evenly throughout the area of the openi in its discharge therethrough against t e glass sheet. 'lhe blast chamber 10s is preferably adjustable, with the pipe as its axis,'to var the adjustment ont the air blast relative to t e sheet to suit conditions. The table 12 is provided at its rear end with a similar air blast chamber 108, except that it is not adjustable with res ect to the table, and the to of such cham er is closed by a plurality c gauze sheets 109, which are tor the same purpose as the sheets 107 above described. The blast chamber 108 has a supply conduit 110 leading therethrough from any suitable source ot air blast supply. lt is preferable in practice to provide th tab-le 12 with a plurality ot se arate interior chambers 111 to and trom w ich a cooling duid may flow through conduits 112 Where the cooling ot the nished sheet would otherwise be rapid it is sometimes advisable to introduce a darne or heat generating medium into the s ace between the cover 102 and tabla 12, and or this purpose l have pnevided e plurality of burners 113 (not shown in Fig. l), which are directed through the top of the cover 102 and have communication with any suitable source of gas supply.

in the use of my improved method and the apparatus illustrated for practicing the same, the sheet mass 3 of any desired thickness, but preferably of a thickness three or four times greater than the desired thickness of the nished Ware, is drawn from the tank l Within the furnace 5 up over the bendingroii 6 and forward between the supporting and drawing conveyor 7 and 8.. As the sheet 'mass passes 'from the fornace charnoer e into the converting chamber li, it iirst passes under the initiai heater A, which, in the foresent instance, is illustrated as losing of the gas burner type, and the temperature oit the sheet mass is raised thereby., The sheet as it passes between the converting; burners and C is further heated to such extent as to permit oreiiicct a -iree derving of the glass from the 'forward end ci the sheet in sheet 'torre or a thickness desired igor the finished Ware, The 'thin or finished sheet then passes down and 'forward into the space between the table i2 and cover 102 'free rorn Contact with element or part nntii it sufciently cooied to prevent ininry to the sheet by reason of such contact. The cooting oi the finished sheet is hastened hy the air hiasts from the hiast charnhers 10st and 108 disposed above below to the sheet in advance or" the converting sone. The point oi' contact of the sheet with the snpporting table i2 is determined hy an adjust nient oi the inclination ci thetahie and aise by a horizontal adjustment thereof, and the sheet after passing over said tahie passes onto the supporting and advancing conveyer within the ieer. The initial converting burner A is :mounted to facilitate an easy verticai or horizontal adjustment thereof to snit conditions,end the converting burners E and C are mounted to not oniy have verticai and horiaontai adjustment, het aise inm dependent vertical swinging adjustment to vary the angniarity of the hnrner 'faces with respect to the sheet the convert-inc lpoint, Each o'iijzhe burners is aise so mounted it can he easily and, quiciriy moved 'from the converting chamber to one side thereof to aciiitate adjustment or repair.

in addition to the advantages hereinhejfore noted as being present in my improved method over the 6'idirect'w method hereto fore employe-d of forming sheet giass, it is evident that in the practicing ci my invention no serions loss of heat occurs, as the amount o? heat necessary to bring the sheet mass to a Werl-ring temperature is comparatively smell diie to the ahiiity of a sheet mass to retain its temperature, dass heine; a poor conductor of heat. it is also oiavionsthat the sheet nisse conid he siovviy reso cooled to an atmospheric temperature and again raised to a workingJ- or converting temperature to forni the nished Ware. Such method, however, would necessarily be more expensive on account of the greater fuel consumption necessary to raise the temperature of the sheet `from its cooled state.

It `Will be understood that the converting heat referred 'to herein and in the ciairns, means the application of such a heat to the sheet mass ci giass as to cause a sheet of lesser thickness 'to fion therefrom by gravity as distinguished 4frein heating the sheet mass at the converting` point suincient oniy to permit s thinnirn;` ':hereoi by s0 stretching actionD in other Words, in my process. a sniiicient heat is anoiied to the she t mass to canse inciting so tint tne in or imperfections v iost obiiterated whereas in the se" i sheet mass are merely snitant i vvisn it nnde ons detaiis `without spirit or the ciairas, and proved niethodis not iirnited to he practiced by the use of the apparatus shown and described, as such apparatus is inereiy iiinstrative of one manner ci practicing;f the invention is not intended to iirnit the scorie ci? the saine.,

Having thus described what i ciaiin as new, and hy Letters Patent, ism

i. method oining; sheet fglass, which consists in continnousiy drawing" from rnoiten source o? snippiy a sheet inass of grises which is thickness than the i'inished sheet to render it-'easy to controi and to reduc-e its sensitiveness to t neratnre chongges and the become suhstantiaiiy in forni applying a converting heat te tne end portion th-erect' continuons vf? n the drawing to dow thereiroin sheet oi2 iess thickness than Athe method or 'forming sheet tedass, wanen consists in ccntinnousiy drawing 'from a inciten source ci? snpniy sheet mass o giass which is of freater thickness than tn sheet to render it essy to conto reduce its sensitiveness to terny changesand the rcass has hecorne sntstentiaiiy lcet in form appiying;

my invention, desire to secure lili assenso a converting heat to the forward end portion thereof continuous with the drawin to llow therefrom a finished sheet of less thickness than the mass, supporting the finished sheet at a distance from the converting mass end to prevent marring, and convey-l ing the sheet away.

3. The method of forming sheet glass, which consists in continuously drawing from amolten source of supply a sheet mass of glass of at least twice the thickness ot' the finished sheet, and continuous with the drawing. operation applying a converting' heat to the mass to flow Va inished sheet therefrom.

d. The method of forming sheet glass, which consists in continuously drawing from a molten source of supply a sheet mass of glass which is several times greater in thickness than the desired finished ware to render it easy to control and to reduce its sensitiveness to temperature changes and applying a converting heat to the forward cnd of the mass at a distance from the forming source to surface melt the same and cause a finished sheet to flow there` from.

5. rlhe method of forming sheet glass., which consists in continuously drawing from a molten source of supply a sheet mass of glass which is several times greater in thickness than the desired inished ware to render it easy to control and to reduce its sensitiveness to temperature changes, applying a converting heat to the forward end ot the mass at a distance from the `forming source to surface melt the same and cause a finished sheet to flow therefrom, and supporting the tinished sheet at a distance `from the converting mass end to prevent marring and conveying' the sheet away.

6. The method of forming sheet glass, which consists in drawing a column `from a supply ot molten glass, cooling the column helow drawing' temperature, applying a melting heat to a portion ot the column, and subjectingi said portion to a force which will remove the glass in sheet form as tast as and only when melted.

l'. The method of 'forming glass, which consists in drawing a column 'from a Supply of molten glass, and, as the column is drawn, progressively cooling it below drawing; temperature, progressively melting the 'forward portion of the column.1 subjecting said portion to a torce which will remove the glass as fast as and only when melted., and allowing; the glass to cool to final shape as removed.

8. The method ot" forming sheet glass which consists in drawing a column from a supply of molten lglass, and, as the column is drawn. progressively cooling it below drawing temperature, continuously applying melting heat to the advance end or the cooled column, and subjecting the end to a force which will remore the glass as fast as and only when melted and in the form of a continuous sheet, and allowing the glass to cool to final shape as removed.

9. rlhe method of forming glass which consists in drawing` a column upward from a supply of molten glass. bendingr it and continuing" to advance it in a horizontal direction, cooling it below drawing tcmpcrature, applyingr a melting heat to the forward end of the advancing column. and removing the glass as fast as and only when melted.

10. The method` of forming sheet glass lwhich consists in drawing a thick sheet upward from a supply ot molten glass. bend' inc' the'sheet and advancing it in a horizontal direction, allowing it to cool helow drawing temperature, applying a melting heat to the advance end of the column and removing the glass in the form of a thin sheet as fast. as and only when it is molten on said end.

1l. 'llhe method ot continuously forming sheet glass, which consists in drawing a mass of glass in sheet form from a molten source ot supply, and, while the sheet mass is still hot, owing by gravity at an angle therefrom a sheet ot lesser thickness by the application of a converting heat,

12. The method of forming sheet glass,

which consists in continuously drawing a mass of glass verticallyin sheet forni troni a molten source of supply and. continuous with the drawing; and before a complete cooling of the sheet mass, applying: a converting;r heat thereto to flow a sheet. ot lesser thickness therefrom.

i3. rlhe method of forming sheet glass. which consists in drawing a thick mass ot glass vertically in sheet form from a molten source of supply and while still heated, gradually increasing the temperature of the sheet to low therefrom a sheet ot' lesser thickness.

14e. The method of forming sheet `rlass, which consists in drawinp` a thiclr sheet mass ot glass vertically trom a molten source ot supply, applying a converting heat to the sheet mass while being conveyed from the source ot supply and still heated. wherchy a sheet of lesser thickness than that ot the vmass is dowed therefrom, and imparting; a.

molten source orn supply, the sheet mass beu ing drawn in a plane at an upward angle to the surface ot the molten mass, and, while conveying the sheet mass away from the drawin source and maintaining heat there- 1n, app ying a converting heat to the sheet lou mass to continuously dow a sheet of predetermined thickness therefrom and then conveying the thinned sheet through a gradually reducing temperature.

16. The method of forming sheet glass,

'which consists in drawing a sheet mass of considerable relative thickness from a source of molten glass supply, passing such sheet mass over a bending-roll and subsequently applying a converting heat to a portion of the sheet being drawn throughout its width whereby a sheet of lesser thickness is caused to How from the end of the sheet mass. g

17. The method of forming sheet glass, which consists in drawing a sheet mass from a molten source of supply up over a bending member and forward therefrom and applying a converting heat to the sheet mass throughout its width at a predetermined point in its advance to cause the softenlng and owing of a relatively thinner sheet from the forward end of the sheet mass.

18. The method of forming sheet glass, which consists in drawing a sheet mass from a source of molten glass supply and., continuous with said drawing, applying a convertin heat to the sheet mass throughout its width and at a pointin advance of the source of supply to cause a softening of the sheet mass and the flowing of a relatively thinner sheet therefrom;

' 19. rl'he method of forming sheet glass, which consists in drawing a sheet mass of relatively great thickness from a source of molten glass supply and, continuous with such drawing, applying a converting heat to the sheet mass throughout its width at a point in advance of the source of suppl to edect the flowing of a relatively thin s eet from the forward end of said sheet mass, the speed of advance of the thin sheet being relat1vely greater than the speed of advance of the sheet mass.

20. The method of forming sheet glass, which consists in drawing a sheet mass of considerable relative thickness from a source of molten glass supply, vapplying a converting heat to said sheet mass throughout its Width and continuous with the drawing thereof'and at a point remote from .the source of suppl to cause. a flowing of a relatively thin sheet from the forward end of said sheet mass, said thin sheet being advanced at a speed relatively greater than the speed of advance of the sheet mass and being maintained free from contact with any surface until cooled suihcient to prevent surface injury.

21. The method of forming sheet glass, which consists in drawing a relatively thick sheet mass from a source of molten glass supply up and forward over a bending mem ber, advancing the sheetv mass e predeter mined extent., then passing it through a con vertiag heat none te cause the derving of e nase relatively thin sheet from the forward end of said sheet mass and subjecting said thin sheet to a coolin temperature as it flows from the convertmg end of the sheet mass.

22. The method of forming sheet lass which consists in drawing a relatively t ick sheet mass from a source of molten lass supply tup and forward over a ben ing member, advancing the sheet mass a predetermined extent, then passing it through a converting heat zone to cause the flowing of a relatively thin sheet from the forward end v#of said sheet mass, and subjecting said thin sheet to a cooling blast as it flows from the converting end of the sheet mass, said thin sheet looping downward and forward from the converting end of the sheet mass and extendino' through a cooling chamber.

23. furnace having a glass drawing opening, a bending roll over said opening, a conveyor at one side of said roll adapted to receive and convey a thick column of glass drawn from the furnace and over the roll, a heater transverse the path of the column beyond the conveyor adapted to heat the column to flowing temperature, and means beyond the heater arranged in such manner as to cause the heated lass to elongate in'to a thinner column an adapted to receive and carry oli' *the glass as it flows fromthe column.

24. The combination with a furnace from which a column of metal is drawn in sheet form, of means for applying heat to the column as it is drawn to flow a sheet of reduced thickness therefrom, means for conveying the column fromthe source of supply to the heating means, and means for conveying the reduced sheet away from the heating means as fast as and only when it flows from the column.

2 5. The combination with a furnace from which a column of glass is continuously drawn in sheet form, of means forming a converting chamber into which the column passes after leaving the furnace means for conveying the column to said chamber, means for applying a converting heat to the column wit in saidy chamber to cause the dow of a sheet of less thickness therefrom, and means for supporting and conveying the thinned sheet away from the converting chamber. A

26. The combination with a furnace of the class described from which a column of metal feeds, of a shaft extendin transversely of the column and to one side thereof, and a heater carried by said shaft for adjustment lengthwise thereof to place it in operative or inoperative relation to said column..

27. The 4combination with a furnace of the class described from which a column of metal feeds, of converting heater for raising the temperature of celuy and Lacasse H@- means carrying said heater and operable to impart adjustments thereto both transverse and longitudinal of the column.

28. 'lhe combination with a furnace from which acolumn of metal feeds, a Shaft disposed transversely of said column, a heater carried by said shaft for adjustment length wise thereof, and means carrying said shaft and adjustable to vary its position relative to said column.

29. The combination with a converting chamber through which a column of glass feeds, of a heater disposed Within said chamber for raising the temperature of the column passinor therethrough, and means supporting sai heater and adjustable to impart both vertical and horizontal adjustment to the heater.

30. rlhe combination with a converting chamber through which a column of metal feeds, of a supporting member, a heater carried by said member adjacent to said column for raising the temperature thereof and adjustable lengthwise of said member, and means supporting said member and operable to both vertically and horizontally adjust the same.

31. rlhe combination with a converting chamber 'through which a Asheet of glass passes, of a heater within said chamber for raising the temperature of said sheet,'n1eans carrying said heater for vertical swinging adjustment lengthwise of the sheet and horizontal adjustment transversely thereof, and Wedge means supporting said rst means and operable to eect both a horizontal and vertical adjustment of said irst means.

32. The combination with a furnace from which a sheet of glass continuously passes, of a table for supporting said sheet at a predetermined distance from the furnace as it passes therefrom, said table having its sheet contacting surface corrugated.

33. The combination with a furnace from which a iini'shed sheet of glass continuously Hows downward and forward, of a table at a predetermined distance in advance of the point of fiow of the sheet from the furnace for supporting contact with the sheet after it has become sufficiently set to prevent marring, said table being mounted for vertical swinging adjustment to vary the point of contact of the sheet therewith, and means for tiltingly adjusting the table. u

34. The combination with a furnace from which a sheet of giass continuously passes, of a substantially horizontal table for supporting said sheet at a predetermined distance from the furnace as it passes there from, the delivery end o' said table being pivoted and the receiving end. thereof being mounted for vertical swinging ad'ustment to vary the point of contact of t e sheet therewith, the table having its sheet contacting surface corrugated, and means for tiltingly adjusting the table.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to `this s ecilication.

ROB T M.y CURL. 

